DNA leads to arrest in 1988 Buena Park killing

Jane Faraci, left, mother of Gehmine Chandler who was murdered in 1988 fights back tears as Buena Park chief of police Corey Sainez speaks to the media during a press conference to announce the arrest of a suspect, Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, who has been charged with strangling Gehmine &#8220;Janine&#8221; Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988.SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

BUENA PARK – A man has been arrested after police say DNA linked him to the sexual assault and killing of a young woman more than two decades ago.

Gehmine "Janine" Lynette Chandler was found strangled in the front bedroom of her father's Buena Park house on Jan. 12, 1988.

"As you can tell, I've never done this before," Chandler's mother Jane Faraci said at a news conference Thursday, "but for her, I would do anything. Every Christmas, every holiday you just get her pictures out and wish she was here."

She was 18, slender, attractive, outgoing and – according to news accounts – more interested in becoming a model than graduating from high school.

Chandler had been living in her father's house in the 8700 block of Vestavia Avenue, near the Los Coyotes Country Club, for about two weeks and planned to move back to Texas, where her mother lived. Her car was parked outside, crammed with her belongings.

Witnesses told police that she had relaxed in a hot tub that evening, taken a shower and gone to bed. Her father, Timothy Edward Patraw, found her body the next morning, cold to the touch with bruises on her neck.

Buena Park police detectives quickly cleared Patraw.

They interviewed and discounted her boyfriend. They questioned dozens of friends and acquaintances.

For more than two decades, the case was cold, partly because DNA comparison was not a viable law enforcement tool in 1988.

But Buena Park police reopened the case several years ago and discovered that killer may have left his DNA during a sexual assault.

Earlier this year, detectives re-interviewed everyone connected to the case in 1988, including relatives, friends and acquaintances.

They asked most of them to donate samples of their DNA to compare to genetic materials left at the crime scene. They said it was routine. None of them said no.

This month, authorities arrested Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, at his home in New Mexico. McDermott had been an acquaintance of Chandler in 1988. He denied when he was re-interviewed earlier this year having dated Chandler or having had sex with her, according to prosecutors.

But he was arrested and charged with murder because his DNA matched the DNA recovered from a sexual assault examination conducted during the autopsy, authorities said.

"Buena Park police never gave up on this case. They were relentless," said Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy, who is handling the prosecution.

Jane Faraci, left, mother of Gehmine Chandler who was murdered in 1988 fights back tears as Buena Park chief of police Corey Sainez speaks to the media during a press conference to announce the arrest of a suspect, Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, who has been charged with strangling Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jane Faraci, center, mother of Gehmine Chandler is helped by her husband Chuck Feraci, up to a podium to speak to the media about the arrest of a suspect in her daughter's 1988 murder Thursday afternoon in Buena Park. Gehmine's sister, Michelle Hetzler and brother, Brandon Chandler stand behind her. Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, has been charged with strangling Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Buena Park police chief Corey Sainez speaks to the media at a press conference surrounded by the family members of Gehmine Chandler. Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, has been charged with strangling Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988. Buena Park police were able to link McDermott to the slaying by DNA evidence. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Brandon Chandler, brother of Gehmine Chandler gestures to Buena Park police officers calling them heroes for tracking down a suspect in the killing of his sister in 1988. Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, has been charged with strangling Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, has been charged with strangling Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988 in Buena Park. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Earlier this month, authorities arrested Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, at his home in New Mexico. McDermott had been an acquaintance of Chandler in 1988.
Gehmine “Janine” Lynette Chandler, then 18 in 1988. Buena Park police used DNA evidence to track down a suspect in the case, Daniel Edward McDermott, 43, of New Mexico, McDermott has been arrested and is facing extradition to California. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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